POLICE SHOOT 13-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, June 5, 2008

A police officer shot a 13-year-old boy who police say had been shooting a gun and disregarded the officer's commands to drop the gun.

By BRENDA EVANS

David Pena, 13, had been firing his gun in the early morning hours of June 6 when neighbors began calling to report the gunfire.

Pasadena Police Department spokesman, A.H. "Bud" Corbett said that reports began coming in around 1 a.m. regarding gunshots heard in the area along Vince Bayou in the 2200 block of Wren.

Neighbors, who said they had never had any other incidents of gunshots, reported that they had heard what they believe was from 20 to 30 gunshots.

According to the police report, police were investigating along Vince Bayou in an attempt to locate the gunfire's point of origin when they came to a house and heard bullets hitting a fence in the back yard.

Corbett said that the officers moved to the front of the property and saw Pena standing in the driveway, firing a .38-caliber revolver in the direction of the back fence when one of the officers who is an eight year veteran in the department, drew his gun and repeatedly ordered him to drop the gun.

The two officers stated that Pena, with the gun still raised, began turning toward them and exhibited what they perceived was an aggressive stance at which time one of the officers responded by firing his weapon at the teen four times.

The teen, sustaining three gunshot wounds to the right side of his lower back, was LifeFlighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he is said to be in critical condition.

Officers believe that at least one other youth fired shots as well. A boy and a girl, both teens, were taken into custody and were placed in the police patrol car.

Officers reported that after the pair were detained inside the unit, the female kicked out a window.

Pena's mother, expected to be home around 6 a.m., was not at home at the time of the incident. When she learned of the incident later, she reportedly told officaials that she had no idea where her son had gotten the gun he was shooting.